I finished Chris Cleave's Incendiary yesterday and I must say.. it took me through a roller-coaster of emotions. How's that for a blog-worthy vague description? But.. it really did.It's really beautifully written and I would highly recommend it to all of you out there. By the end I was a little freaked out and there are a lot of scenes that really pull at your heartstrings, but I enjoyed reading it. A little detail: It's written in the style of a letter to Osama bin Laden from a woman who lost her son and husband in a terrorist attack. She's asking him why he did this to her and explaining the events that happened before and after. An interesting idea. I think it's a movie too- AGH!
Incendiary is by the same author that wrote Little Bee (Auntie G recommends) so I'm interested in checking that one out now.
I've gotten into the habit lately of reading books in one day and yesterday was no different. I think the experience of reading a book in one day and reading it over a long stretch of time is completely different. Would you agree? I can't decide which I like better...
This is the UK cover.. but you get the idea.
16 comments:
Thanks Isabelle! So I now must read Incendiary. Christopher Cleave seems to have a political theme to all his books. Isn't he a journalist turned fiction writer? Little Bee is the story of an African refugee in England. It, too, is heartwrenching from many angles.
So...I agree that reading a book in a day is quite a different experience than reading bits at a time. It's the difference between gorging yourself on a bag of Doritos and eating snacks in correct portion sizes. I'm sure that the latter is probably healthier but there is certainly something deeply satisfying about a binge.
When you've read a really good book in a day do you ever have difficulty coming back to your real life afterwards? I do, it's like having a hangover...not that I've ever had a hangover, but people have described them to me.
I also think some books are best consumed whole -- like Harry Potter. Although you can come back and snack on them another time to catch all the flavor you missed for reading them so quickly the first time.
Yes, I agree completely! My emotions were running high after I finished the book and I think it may have a lot to do with the speed at which I read it. I really should hold back a little :)
I'll send it to you Auntie G..no worries.
Also, Incendiary might not be best consumed whole... especially if you have small children or are easily prone to depression. That is my warning label for the book.
Thanks for the warning. Good writing can have a serious impact on my mood!
I agree on the snack .... comparison (what is that word?!?!?) Much like Aunti G has never had a hangover, I have never read any teen vampire books - but I have a feeling that they would be best gorged as well ;)
I am having to get used to reading things over a longer period of time though, since I otherwise don't seem to have any besides right before I go to bed. I'm about to finish "the Christmas Pig," which is actually a gift for my friend but I lost her german copy she gave me last year in the middle of reading it... IN THE PLANE SEAT POCKET! woe woe!
I think the word is simile. You probably know the German word though.
Here's my tip for remembering the difference between a simile and a metaphor: simile has the same letter as the word "like" (in reverse) so a simile uses "as" or "like" (as in it's like having a hangover) where a metaphor just is (snacking on books). That's your mnenomic device for the day.
Of course, you smart little neices all knew that and didn't need a trick to remember it. I did though because my middle school childrens kept having that in homework assignments and it made my brain full trying to remember which was which!
I was going to make reference to teen vampire books but thought I might seem really shallow!!
Dearest Clairebear, you have apparently become a responsible adult if you have no time to read except for before bed...I'm so sorry.
Thanks for the English clues, dear Auntie! I actually couldn't help Claire out on the simile..so we were both stuck. How lucky that you have middle schoolers in your house!
I watched the movie last night- DON'T DO IT! Just read the book .. it's so so so so so much better. Are you surprised by my reaction? Don't be.
The characters are hardly developed in the movie and David (who had not read the book) had no idea what was going on. Worst of all they kept quoting the stupidest lines from the book as if that would help out the story line. WRONG. "I'll give you 4 fish fingers." is not an important line... in the book OR movie.
Rant over.
Hahhahaha... oh no! I am a shallow, responsible adult! We all knew this would happen someday! Thanks also for the mnemonic devices ;) (I love that word!) I thought you said your "middle school chickens" when I first read your comment too, which was funny and sweet ;)
Hmm... my punctuation needs a little work. I've tried to read the "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" a few times though, to no avail.
PS: I just watched part of the trailer... yes, only part. It looked ridiculous. I will read the book.
FYI, or in case you care, I have just finished reading SARAH'S KEY which I enjoyed very much. (by Tatiana de Rosnay) Just started reading SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME BY Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I would make a post on each if I only knew how!! However I do know the difference between simile and metaphor but that doesn't help me any.
Shouldn't there be a comma after "however"?
OOOOOOOOOOOH snap - I am NOT allowed to say that to my mother! But iMom - you are no longer the technotard! You can post - I know you can!
By the by, I'm gorging on Of Bees and Mist... I expected to read a chapter and fall asleep but NO. (Bed)lights out at 5 till 3!
Yay! Claire love Bees and Mist too. Hip hip hooray!
Next person to visit mom needs to teach her to make posts. Deal?
Ubrigens Claire, that is not the first thing you have left in an airplane pocket! You should never put anything in those things...they eat your stuff!!!!
Is that me? We'll be there the last weekend in March for the Cooper River Bridge Run and back the next weekend just because we love her. And, of course, seeing Isabug in the middle of it all with a jet-setting flight to New York! Yippeee...I am counting down the days!
I may be forced to make your mom a facebook page while there as well. We'll see.
Mere, you should definitely post about Sarah's Key. I think it's the new "hot" book. I'm reading a couple of good books right now which I shall share later.
Oh...p.s. Grandma's in the hospital.
No, don't make her a facebook! She doesn't need anymore technology!
I think I want to come down for the Bridge Run. We'll see how the finances are doing, but at least we will get to see the Mathews that week!! YAYYYY!
I also left a book in an airplane seat pocket. Like sister, like sister.
Haha... I know - and the thing is, I know I was religiously checking the pockets otherwise cause I was so afraid, and I didn't even realize that I didn't have the book (while immediately clicking that I put it in the pocket) till I got home ;p Didn't I forget a sketchbook once? Sad... Somebody could write a book about airplane pockets. Isabelle, tell somebody that in that book place where you work!
And I don't know if all this binge talk got me going or if I just had a very bad idea of time (and didn't look at watch) but I finished of Bees and Mist yesterday. Hmm. Not much sleep. I'm wondering if I should read it again, or Murdoc, the elephant book the Selby gramps sent me.
Give my love to Grandmother! I hope she's doing ok and annoying her nurses ;)
I also don't know if there are any real good reasons for mom to have facebook... she's bad enough with email ;)
(but really good when she gets around to it and I get 10 replies!)
I read that!!
what, Murdoc?
Btw, did anybody manage to order "the 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear" yet? And did Capers pick up my german copy?
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